ciabatta
UK[tʃəˈbæt.ə]US[tʃəˈbɑː.t̬ə]
n
a type of italian bread made with olive oil, having a crisp crust and a soft, porous inside, often used for sandwiches.
Etymology
the word 'ciabatta' is a direct loan from italian, where it literally means 'slipper', due to the bread's characteristic flat, elongated shape which resembles a slipper. this italian term itself derives from the late latin word 'ciabatta', which referred to a type of house slipper. the ultimate origin is likely onomatopoeic, from the sound 'ciap' or 'ciapata' representing the slap of a slipper on the floor. the bread acquired its name in the 20th century, with the modern abstract meaning focusing entirely on the distinctive shape of the loaf rather than any footwear.
Analysis
the word is a simplex loanword from italian. it is not productively segmented using english morphemes.
Examples
i picked up a fresh loaf of ciabatta from the bakery for tonight's dinner.
the panini was made with grilled vegetables and pesto on toasted ciabatta.
the recipe calls for ciabatta bread to be used in the classic tuscan bread salad, panzanella.